FriendsLottery

The FriendsLottery (VriendenLoterij) gives an extra bit of support to thousands of people with an illness, disability and social initiatives that can provide people with a day free from care, finance promising research or make a valuable contribution to society in another way. In 2016, the FriendsLottery contributed 56.6 million euros to charities.

Results & key success factors The FriendsLottery

Mobile phone number

Members of the FriendsLottery play using their mobile phone number, so they always have their ticket with them and can check their winnings by phone whenever and wherever they want.

1998 – 2016: over 787,2 million euros for Health and Welfare

The licence of the FriendsLottery stipulates that 50% of the lottery’s revenue will be donated to charity.

FriendsLottery players can make their own choice which organisation they want to support. For each lottery ticket sold, 50% of the ticket price goes to the chosen organisation. About 3000 clubs and associations take part in this, ranging from small associations with only a couple of tickets , to very big ones.

Figures for 2016 FriendsLottery

619,935 players

Revenue €113.3 Million

815,005 tickets

To charities €56.6 Million

1,403,392 prizes

2005-2016: €787.2 Million to charities

48 charities and 3,056 clubs and associations

FriendsLottery ambassadors

The FriendsLottery has a strong team of ambassadors who spread the word about the importance of the lottery and he good work of its beneficiaries.

Irene MoorsTV presenter

“Just like the lottery, I think it’s very important that people with disabilities should not be side-lined but should take a full part in society.”

Gerard Jolingsinger and TV presenter

“Together, lottery members support tens of organisationsand thousands of clubs and associations that are committed to health and well-being, among other things. Surely, being and staying healthy, and enjoying the company of friends and family, are the most important things in life.”

Lucille WernerTV presenter

“People with a disability must also dare to take the initiative. Social success starts with your own attitude. Thanks to the FriendsLottery, we can show that in all our media and television productions through the Lucille Werner Foundation!”

Wolter Kroessinger

“This year, thanks to its players, the FriendsLotterywas able to donate more than €50 Million to charities. Like the MS Research Foundation, for example, where I’m the ambassador for children with MS. I think it’s great to give something back to our players and the lotteries!”

“Being and staying healthy is something that you have to work at every day and I’m happy to make my contribution to that. That’s why the work of the FriendsLottery is so important.”

Richard Krajicekformer tennis playerand Wimbledon TennisChampion 1996

“The FriendsLottery often makes the impossible come true. Especially for children, who need it most.”

Bas van de Goorformer volleyball international and Olympic champion in 1996

“The FriendsLottery enables people with diabetes to take a more relaxed attitude to their diabetes, be more self-confi dent and get better control of their blood sugars.”

Dirk Kuytfootball player forFeyenoord, Liverpooland Fenerbahçe

“I’d like to thank all members of the FriendsLottery for their support for charities like my Dirk Kuyt Foundation and others that focus on health and wellbeing. After all, you don’t win without top scorers.”

Edwin van der Sarformer football goalkeeper for Ajax, Juventus and Manchester United“We’re very happy with the support we get from the FriendsLottery. Because of that, we can give people with an acquired brain disorder the exercise that they need so very much.”

Herman van Veensinger, artist, actor and presenter

“Thanks to the FriendsLottery we can help children in need to forget their sorrows for a day, by making music and playing in nature.”

Giovanni van Bronckhorstformer football player for Glasgow Rangers, Arsenal and Barcelona, now manager of Feyenoord

“Together we create opportunities that allow children in sports clubs to face the future with promise They’ve deserved that, because all children deserve that.”

Ruud van Nistelrooyformer football player for Manchester United and Real Madrid

"Thanks to the lottery players, the children at our academy can rediscover their belief that they can make their dreams come true. And I’m more than pleased to commit to that as an ambassador.”

Charities FriendsLottery

The FriendsLottery provides long-term institutional support to partners working in the field of health and wellbeing in the Netherlands. It gives an extra bit of support to thousands of people with an illness, disability or disadvantage. Since 1998, the FriendsLottery has contributed € 787 Million to charity organisations.

48 charities and 3056 clubs & associations received 56,6 million euros in 2016

Our organisation

The Dutch Postcode Lottery, the FriendsLottery and the BankGiro Lottery are part of the Holding Nationale Goede Doelen Loterijen N.V. The Supervisory Board of the Holding supervises the management of the holding company and entrusts to it the day-to-day running of the Dutch Charity Lotteries.

Bio’s Managing Directors of the Dutch Postcode Lottery

Fifty percent to charity

The FriendsLottery gives an extra bit of support to thousands of people with an illness, disability or disadvantage. The lottery supports charities and social initiatives that can provide people with a day free from care, finance promising research or make a valuable contribution to society in another way. FriendsLottery players can make their own choice which organisation they want to support. For each lottery ticket sold, 50% of the ticket price goes to the chosen organisation. About 3,000 clubs and associations take part in this, ranging from small associations with only a couple of tickets, to very big ones.

Responsible Play

The Lottery wants to provide players and consumers with clear information so that they make an informed decision to play in our lotteries. The lottery also prevents participation by minors, and commits to responsible marketing activities and compliance with advertising codes.

License and External Auditing

Lottery licences in the Netherlands are granted by the Minister of Justice. The Ministry of Justice and the Dutch Gaming Control Board supervise the national gaming licences and compliance with the Act on Games of Chance. The Board also advises the Minister regarding changes in the rules and regulations, licence and licensees’ rules for participants and monitors the activities of all national legal gaming organisations in the Netherlands for this purpose.

The external auditing of the work of the Dutch Charity Lotteries is carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the Netherlands Metrology Institute (NMI) and notary J.P. van Harseler. Accountants from PricewaterhouseCoopers audit the figures and its computer experts check the data processing of the members’ accounting records. The Netherlands Metrology Institute audits the processes regarding the fairness of the lottery. The notary Mr J.P. van Harseler of Amsterdam carries out the draw of the Dutch Charity Lotteries.